Scheduling in communication systems with multiple service types

ABSTRACT

A method for a user equipment (UE) to receive physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) with a first sub-carrier spacing (SCS) includes receiving a bitmap indicating symbols of a slot that are first symbols of control resource sets (CORESETs) for PDCCH receptions, determining, based on the bitmap, a first number of symbols that is a smallest number of symbols in between a first symbol of PDCCH receptions in first CORESETs and a first symbol of PDCCH receptions in second CORESETs, determining, based on the first number of symbols and the SCS, a first maximum number of non-overlapping control channel elements (CCEs), and receiving the PDCCHs with the first SCS according to the first maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/588,109, filed Jan. 28, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/818,655, filed Mar. 13, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No.11,239,939, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/822,231 filed Mar. 22, 2019, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/825,121 filed Mar. 28, 2019, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communicationsystems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to schedulingin communication systems that support multiple service/priority typesfor a same user equipment or for different user equipments.

BACKGROUND

There is a demand for an improved 5G communication system. A 5Gcommunication system can be implemented in higher frequency (mmWave)bands, for example 28 GHz bands or 60 GHz bands, to enable higher datarates or in lower frequency bands, such as below 6 GHz, to enable robustcoverage and mobility support. User equipments (UEs) and base station(BSs) operating in 5G systems flexibly support multiple service/prioritytypes associated with different reliability or latency requirements in asame downlink or uplink bandwidth part. 5G communication systems alsosupport different transmission types, with corresponding differentrequirements for latency and reception reliability, and interferenceavoidance or compensation can be a critical component in achieving suchrequirements.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for schedulingin communication systems that have multiple service/priority types.

In one embodiment, a method for a user equipment (UE) to receivephysical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) with a first sub-carrierspacing (SCS) is provided. The method includes receiving a bitmapindicating symbols of a slot that are first symbols of control resourcesets (CORESETs) for PDCCH receptions. The method further comprisesdetermining, based on the bitmap, a first number of symbols that is asmallest number of symbols in between a first symbol of PDCCH receptionsin first CORESETs, where the first CORESETs are within a second numberof symbols and a first symbol of PDCCH receptions in second CORESETs.The second CORESETs are within the second number of symbols and thefirst number of symbols is larger than or equal to the second number ofsymbols. The method further comprises determining, based on the firstnumber of symbols and the first SCS, a first maximum number ofnon-overlapping control channel elements (CCEs) for PDCCH receptions inCORESETs within the second number of symbols. The CCEs arenon-overlapping when the CCEs are in CORESETs with different indexes, orare in CORESETs located in different symbols. The method furthercomprises receiving the PDCCHs with the first SCS according to the firstmaximum number of non-overlapping CCEs.

In another embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is provided. The UEincludes a receiver and a processor. The receiver is configured toreceive a bitmap indicating symbols of a slot that are first symbols ofcontrol resource sets (CORESETs) for receptions of physical downlinkcontrol channels (PDCCHs) with a first sub-carrier spacing (SCS). Theprocessor is configured to determine, based on the bitmap, a firstnumber of symbols that is a smallest number of symbols in between afirst symbol of PDCCH receptions in first CORESETs, where the firstCORESETs are within a second number of symbols, and a first symbol ofPDCCH receptions in second CORESETs that are within the second number ofsymbols. The second CORESETs are within the second number of symbols andthe first number of symbols is larger than or equal to the second numberof symbols. The processor is further configured to determine, based onthe first number of symbols and the first SCS, a first maximum number ofnon-overlapping control channel elements (CCEs) for PDCCH receptions inCORESETs within the second number of symbols. The CCEs arenon-overlapping when the CCEs are in CORESETs with different indexes, orare in CORESETs located in different symbols, wherein the receiver isfurther configured to receive the PDCCHs with the first SCS according tothe first maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs.

In yet another embodiment, a base station is provided. The base stationincludes a transmitter and a processor. The transmitter is configured totransmit a bitmap indicating symbols of a slot that are first symbols ofcontrol resource sets (CORESETs) for transmissions of physical downlinkcontrol channels (PDCCHs) with a first sub-carrier spacing (SCS). Theprocessor is configured to determine, based on the bitmap, a firstnumber of symbols that is the smallest number of symbols in between afirst symbol of PDCCH transmissions in first CORESETs, where the firstCORESETs are within a second number of symbols, and a first symbol ofPDCCH transmissions in second CORESETs that are within the second numberof symbols. The second CORESETs are within the second number of symbolsand the first number of symbols is larger than or equal to the secondnumber of symbols. The processor is further configured to determine,based on the first number of symbols and the first SCS, a first maximumnumber of non-overlapping control channel elements (CCEs) for PDCCHtransmissions in CORESETs within the second number of symbols. The CCEsare non-overlapping when the CCEs are in CORESETs with differentindexes, or are in CORESETs located in different symbols. Thetransmitter is further configured to transmit the PDCCHs with the firstSCS.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it can beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this disclosure. The term “couple” and its derivatives referto any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements,whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another.The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well asderivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication.The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaningand/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof,means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, becontained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicablewith, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be boundto or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, orthe like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereofthat controls at least one operation. Such a controller can beimplemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/orfirmware. The functionality associated with any particular controllercan be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Thephrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means thatdifferent combinations of one or more of the listed items can be used,and only one item in the list can be needed. For example, “at least oneof: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, Aand B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented orsupported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed fromcomputer readable program code and embodied in a computer readablemedium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or morecomputer programs, software components, sets of instructions,procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or aportion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computerreadable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code”includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code,and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes anytype of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type ofmemory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired,wireless, optical, or other communication links that transporttransitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computerreadable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored andmedia where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as arewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughoutthis disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understandthat in many, if not most, instances, such definitions apply to prior aswell as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate example wireless transmit and receive paths,respectively, according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3A illustrates an example user equipment (UE) according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B illustrates an example base station (BS) according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A illustrates an example transmitter structure according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B illustrates an example receiver structure according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A illustrates an example encoding process for a downlink controlinformation (DCI) format according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5B illustrates an example decoding process for a DCI formataccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a mechanism for using demodulation reference signals(DMRS) for demodulating candidate physical downlink control channel(PDCCH) receptions according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a distribution of a maximum number of non-overlappingcontrol channel elements (CCEs) in CORESETs in a slot according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a method of determining a DCI format size accordingto various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of determining a resource for a configuredgrant physical uplink shared channel (CG-PUSCH) transmission accordingto various embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of receiving a physical downlink sharedchannel (PDSCH) according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 10 , discussed below, and the various embodiments usedto describe the principles of the present disclosure in this disclosureare by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any wayto limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art willunderstand that the principles of the present disclosure can beimplemented in any suitably arranged wireless communication system.

Depending on the network type, the term ‘base station’ can refer to anycomponent (or collection of components) configured to provide wirelessaccess to a network, such as transmit point (TP), transmit-receive point(TRP), a gNB, a macrocell, a femtocell, a WiFi access point (AP), orother wirelessly enabled devices. Base stations can provide wirelessaccess in accordance with one or more wireless communication protocols,e.g., 5G 3GPP New Radio Interface/Access (NR), long term evolution(LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Wi-Fi802.11a/b/g/n/ac, etc. The terms ‘gNB’ and ‘TRP’ can be usedinterchangeably in this disclosure to refer to network infrastructurecomponents that provide wireless access to remote terminals. Also,depending on the network type, the term UE can refer to any componentsuch as mobile station, subscriber station, remote terminal, wirelessterminal, receive point, or user device. A UE can be a mobile device ora stationary device.

To meet the demand for wireless data traffic having increased sincedeployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made todevelop an improved 5G or pre-5G communication system. Therefore, the 5Gor pre-5G communication system is also called a ‘Beyond 4G Network’ or a‘Post LTE System’.

A 5G communication system can be implemented in higher frequency(mmWave) bands, such as 28 GHz or 60 GHz bands or, in general, above 6GHz bands, so as to accomplish higher data rates, or in lower frequencybands, such as below 6 GHz, to enable robust coverage and mobilitysupport. To decrease propagation loss of the radio waves and increasethe transmission distance, the beamforming, massive multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO), Full Dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna,an analog beam forming, large scale antenna techniques are discussed in5G communication systems.

In addition, in 5G communication systems, development for system networkimprovement is under way based on advanced small cells, cloud RadioAccess Networks (RANs), ultra-dense networks, device-to-device (D2D)communication, wireless backhaul, moving network, cooperativecommunication, Coordinated Multi-Points (CoMP), reception-endinterference cancellation and the like.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network 100 according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the wirelessnetwork 100 shown in FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Other embodimentsof the wireless network 100 can be used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

The wireless network 100 includes a BS 101, a BS 102, and a BS 103. TheBS 101 communicates with the BS 102 and the BS 103. The BS 101 alsocommunicates with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) network 130, suchas the Internet, a proprietary IP network, or other data network.Instead of “BS”, an option term such as “eNB” (enhanced Node B) or “gNB”(general Node B) can also be used. Depending on the network type, otherwell-known terms can be used instead of “gNB” or “BS,” such as “basestation” or “access point.” For the sake of convenience, the terms “gNB”and “BS” are used in the present disclosure to refer to networkinfrastructure components that provide wireless access to remoteterminals. Depending on the network type, other well-known terms can beused instead of “user equipment” or “UE,” such as “mobile station,”“subscriber station,” “remote terminal,” “wireless terminal,” or “userdevice.” For the sake of convenience, the terms “user equipment” and“UE” are used in the present disclosure to refer to remote wirelessequipment that wirelessly accesses a gNB, whether the UE is a mobiledevice (such as a mobile telephone or smartphone) or is normallyconsidered a stationary device (such as a desktop computer or vendingmachine).

The gNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for afirst plurality of UEs within a coverage area 120 of the gNB 102. Thefirst plurality of UEs includes a UE 111, which can be located in asmall business (SB); a UE 112, which can be located in an enterprise(E); a UE 113, which can be located in a WiFi hotspot (HS); a UE 114,which can be located in a first residence (R); a UE 115, which can belocated in a second residence (R); and a UE 116, which can be a mobiledevice (M) like a cell phone, a wireless laptop, a wireless PDA, or thelike. The gNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 of the gNB 103.The second plurality of UEs includes the UE 115 and the UE 116. In someembodiments, one or more of the gNBs 101-103 can communicate with eachother and with the UEs 111-116 using 5G, LTE, LTE-A, WiMAX, or otheradvanced wireless communication techniques.

Dotted lines show the approximate extents of the coverage areas 120 and125, which are shown as approximately circular for the purposes ofillustration and explanation only. For example, the coverage areasassociated with gNBs, such as the coverage areas 120 and 125, can haveother shapes, including irregular shapes, depending upon theconfiguration of the gNBs and variations in the radio environmentassociated with natural and man-made obstructions.

As described in more detail below, one or more of gNB 101, gNB 102, andgNB 103 transmit scheduling information in a communication system withmultiple service/priority type as described in embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In various embodiments, one or more of UEs 111-116receive scheduling information in a communication system with multipleservice/priority types.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network 100,various changes can be made to FIG. 1 . For example, the wirelessnetwork 100 can include any number of gNBs and any number of UEs in anysuitable arrangement. The gNB 101 can communicate directly with anynumber of UEs and provide those UEs with wireless broadband access tothe network 130. Similarly, each gNB 102-103 can communicate directlywith the network 130 and provide UEs with direct wireless broadbandaccess to the network 130. Further, the gNB 101, 102, and/or 103 canprovide access to other or additional external networks, such as othertypes of data networks.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate example wireless transmit and receive paths,respectively, according to the present disclosure. In the followingdescription, a transmit path 200 can be described as being implementedin a gNB (such as gNB 102), while a receive path 250 can be described asbeing implemented in a UE (such as UE 116). However, it will beunderstood that the receive path 250 can be implemented in a gNB (suchas gNB 102) and that the transmit path 200 can be implemented in a UE(such as UE 116). In some embodiments, the receive path 250 isconfigured to receive scheduling information as described in variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

The transmit path 200 includes a channel coding and modulation block205, a serial-to-parallel (S-to-P) block 210, a size N Inverse FastFourier Transform (IFFT) block 215, a parallel-to-serial (P-to-S) block220, an ‘add cyclic prefix’ block 225, and an up-converter (UC) 230. Thereceive path 250 includes a down-converter (DC) 255, a ‘remove cyclicprefix’ block 260, a serial-to-parallel (S-to-P) block 265, a size NFast Fourier Transform (FFT) block 270, a parallel-to-serial (P-to-S)block 275, and a channel decoding and demodulation block 280.

In the transmit path 200, the channel coding and modulation block 205receives a set of information bits, applies coding (such asconvolutional, Turbo, or low-density parity check (LDPC) coding), andmodulates the input bits (such as with Quadrature Phase Shift Keying(QPSK) or Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)) to generate a sequenceof frequency-domain modulation symbols. The S-to-P block 210 converts(such as de-multiplexes) the serial modulated symbols to parallel datain order to generate N parallel symbol streams, where N is the IFFT/FFTsize used in the gNB 102 and the UE 116. The size N IFFT block 215performs an IFFT operation on the N parallel symbol streams to generatetime-domain output signals. The P-to-S block 220 converts (such asmultiplexes) the parallel time-domain output symbols from the size NIFFT block 215 in order to generate a serial time-domain signal. The‘add cyclic prefix’ block 225 inserts a cyclic prefix to the time-domainsignal. The UC 230 modulates (such as up-converts) the output of the‘add cyclic prefix’ block 225 to an RF frequency for transmission via awireless channel. The signal can also be filtered at baseband beforeconversion to the RF frequency.

A transmitted RF signal from the gNB 102 arrives at the UE 116 afterpassing through the wireless channel, and reverse operations to those atthe gNB 102 are performed at the UE 116. The DC 255 down-converts thereceived signal to a baseband frequency, and the ‘remove cyclic prefix’block 260 removes the cyclic prefix to generate a serial time-domainbaseband signal. The serial-to-parallel block 265 converts thetime-domain baseband signal to parallel time domain signals. The size NFFT block 270 performs an FFT algorithm to generate N parallelfrequency-domain signals. The parallel-to-serial block 275 converts theparallel frequency-domain signals to a sequence of modulated datasymbols. The channel decoding and demodulation block 280 demodulates anddecodes the modulated symbols to recover the original input data stream.

As described in more detail below, the transmit path 200 or the receivepath 250 can perform signaling scheduling. Each of the gNBs 101-103 canimplement a transmit path 200 that is analogous to transmitting in thedownlink to UEs 111-116 and can implement a receive path 250 that isanalogous to receiving in the uplink from UEs 111-116. Similarly, eachof UEs 111-116 can implement a transmit path 200 for transmitting in theuplink to gNBs 101-103 and can implement a receive path 250 forreceiving in the downlink from gNBs 101-103.

Each of the components in FIGS. 2A and 2B can be implemented using onlyhardware or using a combination of hardware and software/firmware. As aparticular example, at least some of the components in FIGS. 2A and 2Bcan be implemented in software, while other components can beimplemented by configurable hardware or a mixture of software andconfigurable hardware. For instance, the size N FFT block 270 and thesize N IFFT block 215 can be implemented as configurable softwarealgorithms, where the value of size N can be modified according to theimplementation.

Furthermore, although described as using FFT and IFFT, this is by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. Other types of transforms, such as Discrete FourierTransform (DFT) and Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) functions,can be used. It will be appreciated that the value of the variable N canbe any integer number (such as 1, 2, 3, 4, or the like) for DFT and IDFTfunctions, while the value of the variable N can be any integer numberthat is a power of two (such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or the like) for FFT andIFFT functions.

Although FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of wireless transmit andreceive paths, various changes can be made to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Forexample, various components in FIGS. 2A and 2B can be combined, furthersubdivided, or omitted and additional components can be added accordingto particular needs. FIGS. 2A and 2B are meant to illustrate examples ofthe types of transmit and receive paths that can be used in a wirelessnetwork. Other suitable architectures can be used to support wirelesscommunications in a wireless network.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example UE according to the present disclosure.The embodiment of the UE 116 illustrated in FIG. 3A is for illustrationonly, and the UEs 111-115 of FIG. 1 can have the same or similarconfiguration. However, UEs come in a wide variety of configurations,and FIG. 3A does not limit the scope of the present disclosure to anyparticular implementation of a UE.

The UE 116 includes an antenna 305, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver310, transmit (TX) processing circuitry 315, a microphone 320, andreceive (RX) processing circuitry 325. The UE 116 also includes aspeaker 330, a processor 340, an input/output (I/O) interface 345, aninput 350, a display 355, and a memory 360. The memory 360 includes anoperating system (OS) program 361 and one or more applications 362.

The RF transceiver 310 receives, from the antenna 305, an incoming RFsignal transmitted by a gNB, such as the gNB 102, of the wirelessnetwork 100 of FIG. 1 . The RF transceiver 310 down-converts theincoming RF signal to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) orbaseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is sent to the RX processingcircuitry 325, which generates a processed baseband signal by filtering,decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IF signal. The RX processingcircuitry 325 transmits the processed baseband signal to the speaker 330(such as for voice data) or to the processor 340 for further processing(such as for web browsing data).

The TX processing circuitry 315 receives analog or digital voice datafrom the microphone 320 or other outgoing baseband data (such as webdata, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from the processor 340.The TX processing circuitry 315 encodes, multiplexes, and/or digitizesthe outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband or IFsignal. The RF transceiver 310 receives the outgoing processed basebandor IF signal from the TX processing circuitry 315 and up-converts thebaseband or IF signal to an RF signal that is then transmitted via theantenna 305.

The processor 340 can include one or more processors or other processingdevices and execute the OS program 361 stored in the memory 360 in orderto control the overall operation of the UE 116. For example, theprocessor 340 can control the reception of forward channel signals andthe transmission of reverse channel signals by the RF transceiver 310,the RX processing circuitry 325, and the TX processing circuitry 315 inaccordance with well-known principles. In some embodiments, theprocessor 340 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The processor 340 can execute other processes and programs resident inthe memory 360, such as operations for receiving scheduling informationin a communication system with multiple service/priority type asdescribed in embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 340can move data into or out of the memory 360 as part of an executingprocess. In some embodiments, the processor 340 is configured to executethe applications 362 based on the OS program 361 or in response tosignals received from gNBs or an operator. The processor 340 is alsocoupled to the I/O interface 345, which provides the UE 116 with theability to connect to other devices such as laptop computers andhandheld computers. The I/O interface 345 is the communication pathbetween these accessories and the processor 340.

The processor 340 is also coupled to the input 350 (e.g., a keypad,touchscreen, button, etc.) and the display 355. The operator of the UE116 can use the input 350 to enter data into the UE 116. The display 355can be a liquid crystal display or other display capable of renderingtext and/or at least limited graphics, such as from web sites.

The memory 360 is coupled to the processor 340. The memory 360 caninclude at least one of a random-access memory (RAM), Flash memory, orother read-only memory (ROM).

As described in more detail below, various embodiments of the presentdisclosure enable the UE 116 to receive scheduling information in acommunication system with multiple service/priority types. Although FIG.3A illustrates one example of UE 116, various changes can be made toFIG. 3A. For example, various components in FIG. 3A can be combined,further subdivided, or omitted and additional components can be addedaccording to particular needs. As a particular example, the processor340 can be divided into multiple processors, such as one or more centralprocessing units (CPUs) and one or more graphics processing units(GPUs). Although FIG. 3A illustrates the UE 116 as a mobile telephone orsmartphone, UEs can be configured to operate as other types of mobile orstationary devices.

FIG. 3B illustrates an example gNB according to the present disclosure.The embodiment of the gNB 102 shown in FIG. 3B is for illustration only,and other gNBs of FIG. 1 can have the same or similar configuration.However, gNBs come in a wide variety of configurations, and FIG. 3B doesnot limit the scope of the present disclosure to any particularimplementation of a gNB. The gNB 101 and the gNB 103 can include thesame or similar structure as the gNB 102.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the gNB 102 includes multiple antennas 370 a-370 n,multiple RF transceivers 372 a-372 n, transmit (TX) processing circuitry374, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 376. In certain embodiments,one or more of the multiple antennas 370 a-370 n include 2D antennaarrays. The gNB 102 also includes a controller/processor 378, a memory380, and a backhaul or network interface 382.

The RF transceivers 372 a-372 n receive, from the antennas 370 a-370 n,incoming RF signals, such as signals transmitted by UEs or other gNBs.The RF transceivers 372 a-372 n down-convert the incoming RF signals togenerate IF or baseband signals. The IF or baseband signals are sent tothe RX processing circuitry 376, which generates processed basebandsignals by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IFsignals. The RX processing circuitry 376 transmits the processedbaseband signals to the controller/processor 378 for further processing.

The TX processing circuitry 374 receives analog or digital data (such asvoice data, web data, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from thecontroller/processor 378. The TX processing circuitry 374 encodes,multiplexes, and/or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generateprocessed baseband or IF signals. The RF transceivers 372 a-372 nreceive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signals from the TXprocessing circuitry 374 and up-converts the baseband or IF signals toRF signals that are transmitted via the antennas 370 a-370 n.

The controller/processor 378 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices that control the overall operation of the gNB 102.For example, the controller/processor 378 can control the reception offorward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signalsby the RF transceivers 372 a-372 n, the RX processing circuitry 376, andthe TX processing circuitry 374 in accordance with well-knownprinciples. The controller/processor 378 can support additionalfunctions as well, such as more advanced wireless communicationfunctions. In some embodiments, the controller/processor 378 includes atleast one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The controller/processor 378 can execute programs and other processesresident in the memory 380, such as an OS. The controller/processor 378can support transmitting scheduling information in a communicationsystem with multiple service/priority type as described in embodimentsof the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the controller/processor378 supports communications between entities, such as web RTC. Thecontroller/processor 378 can move data into or out of the memory 380 aspart of an executing process.

The controller/processor 378 is also coupled to the backhaul or networkinterface 382. The backhaul or network interface 382 allows the gNB 102to communicate with other devices or systems over a backhaul connectionor over a network. The backhaul or network interface 382 can supportcommunications over any suitable wired or wireless connection(s). Forexample, when the gNB 102 is implemented as part of a cellularcommunication system (such as one supporting 5G or new radio accesstechnology or NR, LTE, or LTE-A), the backhaul or network interface 382can allow the gNB 102 to communicate with other gNBs over a wired orwireless backhaul connection. When the gNB 102 is implemented as anaccess point, the backhaul or network interface 382 can allow the gNB102 to communicate over a wired or wireless local area network or over awired or wireless connection to a larger network (such as the Internet).The backhaul or network interface 382 includes any suitable structuresupporting communications over a wired or wireless connection, such asan Ethernet or RF transceiver.

The memory 380 is coupled to the controller/processor 378. The memory380 can include at least one of a RAM, a Flash memory, or other ROM. Incertain embodiments, a plurality of instructions, such as a BISalgorithm, is stored in memory. As described in more detail below, thetransmit and receive paths of the gNB 102 (implemented using the RFtransceivers 372 a-372 n, TX processing circuitry 374, and/or RXprocessing circuitry 376) transmit scheduling information in acommunication system with multiple service/priority types.

Although FIG. 3B illustrates one example of a gNB 102, various changescan be made to FIG. 3B. For example, the gNB 102 can include any numberof each component shown in FIG. 3A. As a particular example, an accesspoint can include a number of backhaul or network interfaces 382, andthe controller/processor 378 can support routing functions to route databetween different network addresses. As another example, while shown asincluding a single instance of TX processing circuitry 374 and a singleinstance of RX processing circuitry 376, the gNB 102 can includemultiple instances of each (such as one per RF transceiver).

FIG. 4A illustrates an example transmitter structure according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure. The example transmitterstructure 401 illustrated in FIG. 4A is for illustration only and shouldnot be construed as limiting. FIG. 4A does not limit the scope of thepresent disclosure to any particular transmitter structure. One or moreof the components illustrated in FIG. 4A can be implemented inspecialized circuitry configured to perform the noted functions or oneor more of the components can be implemented by one or more processorsexecuting instructions to perform the noted functions. For example, thetransmitter structure 401 can be implemented in a UE 111-116 or a gNB101-103 that implements the transmit path 200. Other embodiments can beused without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 4A, information bits, such as DCI bits or data bits402, are encoded by encoder 404, rate matched to assigned time/frequencyresources by rate matcher 406 and modulated by modulator 408.Subsequently, modulated encoded symbols and DMRS or CSI-RS 410 aremapped to SCs 412 by SC mapping unit 414, an inverse fast Fouriertransform (IFFT) is performed by a filter 416, a cyclic prefix (CP) isadded by CP insertion unit 418, and a resulting signal 422 is filteredby a filter and then transmitted by a radio frequency (RF) unit 420.

FIG. 4B illustrates example receiver structure using OFDM according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure. The example receiverstructure 431 illustrated in FIG. 4B is for illustration only and shouldnot be construed as limiting. FIG. 4B does not limit the scope of thepresent disclosure to any particular receiver structure. One or more ofthe components illustrated in FIG. 4B can be implemented in specializedcircuitry configured to perform the noted functions or one or more ofthe components can be implemented by one or more processors executinginstructions to perform the noted functions. For example, the receiverstructure 431 can be implemented in a UE 111-116 or a gNB 101-103 thatimplements the receive path 250. Other embodiments can be used withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, a received signal 432 is filtered by filter434, a CP removal unit 436 removes a CP, a filter 438 applies a fastFourier transform (FFT), SCs de-mapping unit 440 de-maps SCs selected byBW selector unit 442, received symbols are demodulated by a channelestimator and a demodulator unit 444, a rate de-matcher 446 restores arate matching, and a decoder 448 decodes the resulting bits to provideinformation bits 450.

A time unit for DL signaling or for UL signaling on a cell is onesymbol. A symbol belongs to a slot that includes a number of symbolssuch as 14 symbols and is referred to as DL symbol if used for DLsignaling, UL symbol if used for UL signaling, or flexible symbol if itcan be used for either DL signaling or UL signaling. The slot can alsobe a time unit for DL or UL signaling on a cell.

A bandwidth (BW) unit is referred to as a resource block (RB). One RBincludes a number of sub-carriers (SCs), such as 12 subcarriers. An RBin one symbol of a slot is referred to as physical RB (PRB) and includesa number of resource elements (REs). For example, a slot can have aduration of 1 millisecond and include 14 symbols and an RB can have a BWof 180 kHz and include 12 SCs with SC spacing of 15 kHz. As anotherexample, a slot can have a duration of 0.25 milliseconds and include 14symbols and an RB can have a BW of 720 kHz and include 12 SCs with SCspacing of 60 kHz.

DL signals include data signals conveying information content, controlsignals conveying DL control information (DCI), and reference signals(RS) that are also known as pilot signals. A gNB, for example the gNB102, can transmit data information or DCI through respective physical DLshared channels (PDSCHs) or physical DL control channels (PDCCHs). ThegNB can transmit one or more of multiple types of RS including channelstate information RS (CSI-RS) and demodulation RS (DMRS). A CSI-RS isprimarily intended for UEs to perform measurements and provide channelstate information (CSI) to a gNB. For channel measurement, non-zeropower CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS) resources can be used. For interferencemeasurement reports (IMRs), CSI interference measurement (CSI-IM)resources associated with a zero power CSI-RS (ZP CSI-RS) configurationcan be used.

A CSI process can include NZP CSI-RS and CSI-IM resources. A UE, forexample the UE 116, can determine CSI-RS transmission parameters throughDL control signaling or higher layer signaling, such as radio resourcecontrol (RRC) signaling from a gNB. Transmission instances of a CSI-RScan be indicated by DL control signaling at the physical layer orconfigured by higher layer signaling. A DMRS is typically received by aUE, such as the UE 116, only in the BW of a respective PDCCH or PDSCHreception and the UE can use the DMRS to demodulate data or controlinformation.

A UE typically monitors multiple candidate locations for respectivepotential PDCCH receptions (PDCCH candidates) to decode multiple DCIformats in a slot. A DCI format includes cyclic redundancy check (CRC)bits in order for the UE to confirm a correct detection of the DCIformat. A DCI format type is identified by a radio network temporaryidentifier (RNTI) that scrambles the CRC bits. For a DCI formatscheduling a PDSCH or a PUSCH to a single UE, the RNTI can be a cellRNTI (C-RNTI) or MCS-C-RNTI and serves as a UE identifier. For a DCIformat scheduling a PDSCH conveying system information (SI), the RNTIcan be a system information RNTI (SI-RNTI). For a DCI format schedulinga PDSCH providing a random access response (RAR), the RNTI can be arandom access RNTI (RA-RNTI). For a DCI format providing transmissionpower control (TPC) commands to a group of UEs, the RNTI can be atransmission power control RNTI (TPC-RNTI). For a DCI format indicatingdiscontinuous transmission from a gNB in a previous slot, the RNTI canbe an interruption RNTI (INT-RNTI). Each RNTI type can be configured toa UE through higher-layer signaling such as RRC signaling.

A DCI format with CRC scrambled by a C-RNTI and scheduling PDSCHreception to a UE is also referred to as DL DCI format or DL assignmentwhile a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a C-RNTI and scheduling PUSCHtransmission from a UE is also referred to as UL DCI format or UL grant.An UL DCI format can be a DCI format 0_0 or a DCI format 0_1 and a DLDCI format can be a DCI format 1_0 or a DCI format 1_1. To maintain amaximum number for sizes of DCI formats with CRC scrambled by a C-RNTI,such as for example 3 sizes, when the UE is configured to monitor PDCCHfor detection of UL DCI formats and of DL DCI formats having more than 3different sizes, padding bits with value of binary zero are appended toDCI format 0_0 when it has a smaller size than DCI format 1_0, or to DCIformat 1_0 when it has a smaller size than DCI format 0_0, in order toobtain a same size for DCI format 0_0 and DCI format 1_0. No paddingbits are appended to DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 respective sizesremain different when a total number of sizes for UL DCI formats and forDL DCI formats is 3.

A PDCCH reception can be within a set of PRBs in a slot corresponding toa set of RBs and a set of consecutive symbols in a slot. A gNB canconfigure a UE one or more sets of PRB sets, also referred to as controlresource sets (CORESETs), for PDCCH receptions. A number of symbols fora CORESET is one, two, or three. A PDCCH reception can be in controlchannel elements (CCEs) that are included in a CORESET. A UE determinesCCEs for decoding a PDCCH candidate based on a search space. A set ofPDCCH candidates for a DCI format with a C-RNTI, a CS-RNTI, or anMCS-C-RNTI defines a corresponding UE-specific search space set (USSset) for the DCI format where a UE, such as the UE 116, determines PDCCHcandidate locations according to a USS. A set of PDCCH candidates for aDCI format with an RNTI that can be configured to multiple UEs defines acommon search space set (CSS set) where a UE, such as the UE 116,determines PDCCH candidate locations according to a CSS. A search spaceset is associated with a CORESET and with one or more DCI formats wherea UE, such as the UE 116, monitors PDCCH candidates for detection of theone or more DCI formats according to the search space set, wheremonitoring means reception of a PDCCH candidate and decoding of a DCIformat associated with the PDCCH candidate by the UE. A UE expects tomonitor PDCCH candidates for up to 4 sizes of DCI formats that includeup to 3 sizes of DCI formats with CRC scrambled by C-RNTI per servingcell. The UE counts a number of sizes for DCI formats per serving cellbased on a number of configured PDCCH candidates in respective searchspace sets for a corresponding active DL BWP.

A UE, such as the UE 116, determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion on anactive DL BWP from a PDCCH monitoring periodicity of k_(s) slots, aPDCCH monitoring offset of o_(s) slots, and a PDCCH monitoring patternwithin a slot that is provided by a bitmap indicating first symbol(s) ofa CORESET within a slot for PDCCH monitoring. For search space set s,the UE determines that a PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) exists in a slotwith number n_(s,f) ^(μ) in a frame with number n_(f) if (n_(f)·N_(slot)^(frame,μ)+n_(s,f) ^(μ)−o_(s)) mod k_(s)=0 where N_(slot) ^(frame,μ) isa number of slots per frame for subcarrier spacing (SCS) configurationμ. The UE monitors PDCCH for search space set s for T_(s) consecutiveslots, starting from slot n_(s,f) ^(μ) and does not monitor PDCCH forsearch space set s for the next k_(s)−T_(s) consecutive slots. If thePDCCH monitoring pattern indicates to the UE to monitor PDCCH in asubset of up to three consecutive symbols that are same in every slotwhere the UE monitors PDCCH for all search space sets, the UE does notexpect to be configured with a PDCCH SCS other than 15 kHz if the subsetincludes at least one symbol after the third symbol.

In various embodiments, for example, the UE can be configured withparameters for a search space set for monitoring PDCCHs to decode a DCIformat 0_0 that schedules a PUSCH transmission or to decode a DCI format1_0 that schedules a PDSCH reception. The UE can also be configured withparameters for a search space set for monitoring PDCCHs to decode a DCIformat 0_1 that schedules a PUSCH transmission or to decode a DCI format1_1 that schedules a PDSCH reception.

For example, FIG. 5A illustrate an example encoding process according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure. More particularly, FIG.5A illustrates an encoding process for a DCI format according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the encodingprocess shown in FIG. 5A is for illustration only and should not beconstrued as limiting. FIG. 5A does not limit the scope of the presentdisclosure to any particular encoding process. One or more of the stepsillustrated in FIG. 5A can be implemented in specialized circuitryconfigured to perform the noted functions or one or more of thecomponents can be implemented by one or more processors executinginstructions to perform the noted functions. For example, the encodingprocess 501 can be implemented in a UE 111-116 or a gNB 101-103 thatimplements the encoding process 501. Other embodiments can be usedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

A gNB, such as the gNB 102, separately encodes and transmits each DCIformat in a respective PDCCH. When applicable, a RNTI for a UE, such asthe UE 116, that a DCI format is intended for masks a CRC of the DCIformat codeword in order to enable the UE 116 to identify the DCIformat. For example, the CRC can include 16 bits or 24 bits and the RNTIcan include 16 bits or 24 bits. Otherwise, when a RNTI is not includedin a DCI format, a DCI format type indicator field can be included inthe DCI format. The CRC of (non-coded) DCI format bits 502 is determinedusing a CRC computation unit 504, and the CRC is masked using anexclusive OR (XOR) operation unit 506 between CRC bits and RNTI bits508. The XOR operation is defined as XOR(0,0)=0, XOR(0,1)=1, XOR(1,0)=1,XOR(1,1)=0. The masked CRC bits are appended to DCI format informationbits using a CRC append unit 510. An encoder 512 performs channel coding(such as tail-biting convolutional coding or polar coding), followed byrate matching to allocated resources by rate matcher 514. Interleavingand modulation units 516 apply interleaving and modulation, such asQPSK, and the output control signal 518 is transmitted.

FIG. 5B illustrates an example decoding process according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. More particularly, FIG. 5Billustrates an example decoding process for a DCI format for use with aUE according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Theembodiment of the decoding process shown in FIG. 5B is for illustrationonly and should not be construed as limiting. FIG. 5B does not limit thescope of the present disclosure to any particular decoding process. Oneor more of the steps illustrated in FIG. 5B can be implemented inspecialized circuitry configured to perform the noted functions or oneor more of the components can be implemented by one or more processorsexecuting instructions to perform the noted functions. For example, thedecoding process 531 can be implemented in a UE 111-116 or a gNB 101-103that implements the decoding process 531. Other embodiments can be usedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In variousembodiments, the decoding process 531 can be a complementary process tothe encoding process 501 illustrated in FIG. 5A.

A received control signal 532 is demodulated and de-interleaved by ademodulator and a de-interleaver 534. A rate matching applied at a gNB,such as the gNB 102, transmitter is restored by rate matcher 536, andresulting bits are decoded by decoder 538. After decoding, a CRCextractor 540 extracts CRC bits and provides DCI format information bits542. The DCI format information bits are de-masked 544 by an XORoperation with a RNTI 546 (when applicable) and a CRC check is performedby unit 548. When the CRC check succeeds (check-sum is zero), the DCIformat information bits are considered to be valid. When the CRC checkdoes not succeed, the DCI format information bits are considered to beinvalid.

A UE has a predetermined capability, as a function of a sub-carrierspacing (SCS) used for PDCCH reception in a DL bandwidth part (DL BWP)of a cell, for a maximum number of PDCCH candidates and for a maximumnumber of non-overlapping CCEs for PDCCH receptions in CORESETs per slotand per serving cell. For example, for 15 kHz SCS and for 120 kHz SCS, aUE capability for a maximum number of PDCCH candidates in CORESETs perslot is 44 and 20, respectively, and a UE capability for a maximumnumber of non-overlapping CCEs for PDCCH receptions in CORESETs per slotis 56 and 32, respectively per serving cell.

UL signals also include data signals conveying information content,control signals conveying UL control information (UCI), DMRS associatedwith data or UCI demodulation, sounding RS (SRS) enabling the gNB 102 toperform UL channel measurement, and a random access (RA) preambleenabling a UE to perform random access. The transceiver 310 of the UE116 transmits data information or UCI through a respective physical ULshared channel (PUSCH) or a physical UL control channel (PUCCH). Whenthe UE 116 simultaneously transmits data information and UCI, the UE canmultiplex both in a PUSCH. UCI includes hybrid automatic repeat requestacknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information, indicating correct or incorrectdetection of transport blocks (TBs) with data information in a PDSCH,scheduling request (SR) indicating whether the UE 116 has data in itsbuffer, and CSI reports enabling a gNB to select appropriate parametersfor PDSCH or PDCCH transmissions to the UE 116. For UCI multiplexing isa PUSCH, the UE 116 can determine a number of REs according to a UCItype. For systems operating with hybrid beamforming, UCI can alsoinclude beam information such as an index for a set of quasi-collocationparameters, from multiple sets of quasi-collocation parameters, for areceived signal and a corresponding reference signal received power(RSRP) value.

A CSI report from a UE can include a channel quality indicator (CQI)informing a gNB of a largest modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for theUE to detect a data TB with a predetermined block error rate (BLER),such as a 10% BLER, of a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) informing agNB how to combine signals from multiple transmitter antennas inaccordance with a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmissionprinciple, and of a rank indicator (RI) indicating a transmission rankfor a PDSCH.

UL RS includes DMRS, SRS, and phase tracking RS (PTRS). In someembodiments, DMRS can be transmitted only in a BW of a respective PUSCHor PUCCH transmission. A gNB can use a DMRS to demodulate information ina respective PUSCH or PUCCH. SRS is transmitted by the transceiver 310of the UE 116 to provide a gNB with an UL CSI and, for a TDD system, anSRS transmission can also provide a PMI for DL transmissions by the gNB.PTRS is transmitted in PUSCH REs in order to enable a gNB, such as thegNB 102, receiver to obtain a track a phase of the received signal.Additionally, in order to establish synchronization or an initial RRCconnection with the gNB 102, the UE 116 can transmit a physical randomaccess channel (PRACH).

The UE 116 sets a power for a transmission of channel or signal, such asPUSCH, PUCCH, or SRS, with an objective to achieve a correspondingreliability target by achieving a respective target receivedsingle-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR) or a target block errorrate (BLER) at a reception point of a cell of a gNB while controllinginterference to neighboring cells. UL power control (PC) includesopen-loop PC (OLPC) with cell-specific and UE-specific parameters andclosed-loop PC (CLPC) corrections provided to the UE 116 by the gNB 102through transmission PC (TPC) commands. When a PUSCH transmission isscheduled by a DCI format in a PDCCH reception, a TPC command isincluded in the DCI format.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure recognize that 5G systemscan flexibly support multiple service/priority types in a same DL BWP orUL BWP that require BLER targets for data or control information thatare different by orders of magnitude and require widely differentlatencies for a successful delivery of a transport block (TB). For PDSCHreception by the transceiver 310 of the UE 116 that provides a TBrequiring low latency and high reliability, a serving gNB 102 cansuspend any ongoing transmission that would interfere (use sameresources in the time/frequency/spatial domains) with the PDSCHreception of the TB by the transceiver 310 of the UE 116. Suchinterference avoidance is a more difficult task for a PUSCH transmissionfrom a UE that provides a TB requiring low latency and high reliability.

For a PUSCH transmission that is scheduled by an UL DCI format in aPDCCH reception by UE 116, the gNB 102 has some flexibility to avoidongoing or future transmissions from other UEs that would interfere withthe PUSCH transmission from the UE 116 through a resource assignmentthat would avoid such interference. However, as previously scheduledtransmissions may occupy a substantial part of an active UL BWP,interference avoidance through scheduling may not be always possible.Accordingly, various approaches can be used to ensure the reliability ofa PUSCH transmission.

One approach to ensure the reliability of a PUSCH transmission from aUE, such as the UE 116, that would be interfered by transmissions fromother UEs is for a gNB, such as the gNB 102, to increase a power for thePUSCH transmission from the UE and possibly employ interferencecancelation such as serial interference cancellation. The applicabilityof this approach is limited to UEs that can increase a PUSCHtransmission power and is therefore not available to all UEs.

Another approach is for the gNB 102 to instruct the other UEs 111-115 tocancel their transmissions at least in a set of time/frequency/spatialresources that would interfere with the PUSCH transmission from the UE116. For example, the gNB 102 can provide an indication to the other UEs111-115 to cancel their transmissions through a PDCCH transmission thatincludes a DCI format that can be detected by all UEs 111-116 andinforms of a set of time-frequency resources where transmissions fromthe other UEs 111-115 need to be canceled. For brevity, the DCI formatis referred to as DCI format 2_4. However, the applicability of thisapproach requires that a UE monitors PDCCHs in multiple occasions withina slot as a PUSCH transmission for the UE 116 needs to be scheduled witha small latency as, otherwise, the PUSCH transmission can be scheduledin a next slot and interference from other transmissions can be avoidedby the scheduler. This approach further requires that when a TB includedin the PUSCH transmission requires high reception reliability at the gNB102, all interfering UEs detect the DCI format provided by a PDCCH withsame or better reception reliability as the one for the TB at the gNB102. This in turn requires use of a large CCE aggregation level for thePDCCH transmission. The combination of a short monitoring periodicityand a large number of CCEs that need to be used for a PDCCH transmissionproviding a DCI format indicating a set of time and/or frequencyresources where transmissions from UEs need to be canceled increases animplementation complexity for a UE in a number of non-overlapping CCEsthat the UE needs to perform channel estimation within a time periodsuch as a slot or a fraction of a slot.

Accordingly, various embodiments of the present disclosure recognize theadvantage of providing mechanisms for a UE, such as the UE 116, tomonitor PDCCH that includes a DCI format indicating to the UE 116 a setof time and/or frequency resources where the UE 116 shall cancel atransmission while mitigating an increase in a number of non-overlappingCCEs where the UE 116 needs to perform channel estimation in a slot.CCEs for PDCCH candidates are non-overlapping if they correspond todifferent CORESET indexes or to different first symbols for thereception of the respective PDCCH candidates. CCEs with differentindexes in a same CORESET are also non-overlapping.

In some embodiments, a PUSCH transmission from the UE 116 can beautonomous, without an associated UL DCI format from the gNB 102, onresources from a set of resources that is provided to the UE 116 fromthe gNB 102 by higher layers. For brevity, such a PUSCH transmission isreferred to as grant-free PUSCH transmission (GF-PUSCH) orconfigured-grant PUSCH transmission (CG-PUSCH). For a CG-PUSCHtransmission from the UE 116, it is not possible for the gNB 102 toindicate to any interfering UEs 111-115 to cancel their transmissions asthe gNB 102 cannot know in advance of the CG-PUSCH transmission from theUE 116. One approach for the gNB 102 to avoid or mitigate the impact ofintra-cell interference to the CG-PUSCH transmission is to indicate, forexample at the beginning of each slot where CG-PUSCH transmissions canoccur, a set of time resources and a set of frequency resources, jointlyreferred to as a set of time-frequency resources for brevity, or a setof frequency resources (assuming all symbols of the slot are used fortransmissions) with transmissions from other UEs 111-115. The UE 116with the CG-PUSCH transmission can then select a resource from the setof resources that is least impacted by intra-cell interference for theCG-PUSCH transmission. For example, that resource can be the one withthe smallest number of RBs (or REs) used for transmissions by other UEs111-115. If no such resources are available, such as when alltime-frequency resources in the set of time-frequency resources for aCG-PUSCH transmission at least partially overlap with time-frequencyresources for transmissions from other UEs 111-115, the UE 116 can alsobe configured with a set of transmission power control parameters to usewhen a CG-PUSCH transmission includes RBs (or REs) that are indicated bythe gNB 102 to include intra-cell interference from other UEs 111-115transmitting to the gNB 102.

However, similar to a PUSCH transmission that is scheduled by an UL DCIformat, the UE 116 may not always be capable to increase a PUSCHtransmission power to circumvent interference. Also, when the UE 116 iscapable of increasing a PUSCH transmission power, an amount the PUSCHtransmission power needs to increase according to an amount ofinterference. Therefore, various embodiments of the present disclosurerecognize the advantages of enabling the UE 116 with a CG-PUSCHtransmission that may experience intra-cell interference to improve areception reliability for an associated TB at the gNB 102 without havingto increase a CG-PUSCH transmission power. Various embodiments of thepresent disclosure further recognize the advantages of enabling the UE116 with a CG-PUSCH transmission that may experience intra-cellinterference to adjust a CG-PUSCH transmission power according to alevel of intra-cell interference. Additionally, various embodiments ofthe present disclosure recognize the advantages of minimizing aprobability that a CG-PUSCH transmission from the UE 116 is interferedby transmissions from other UEs 111-115 on a same serving cell of thegNB 102.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure recognize that PUCCHtransmissions from the UE 116 in resources indicated by a DL DCI formatcan experience similar challenges as the ones for a PUSCH transmissionfrom the UE 116.

In some embodiments, a UE, such as the UE 116, can be configured tosupport different service/priority types such as mobile broadband (MBB),for example for internet access or video download, and ultra-reliablelow latency communications (URLLC), for example for augmented/virtualreality (AR/VR) services where, for example, a DCI format scheduling aPUSCH transmission for URLLC service indicates a larger priority than aDCI format scheduling a PUSCH transmission for MBB service. Becausecommunication requirements for different service/priority types can bedifferent, DCI formats used for scheduling PDSCH receptions or PUSCHtransmissions to the UE 116 for one service type can be different thanDCI formats for another service type and corresponding PDCCHtransmissions can require different CCE aggregation levels toaccommodate different reliability requirements for detection ofcorresponding DCI formats. In order to simplify UE implementation, anumber of sizes for DCI formats scheduling UE-specific PDSCH receptionsor PUSCH transmissions, such as DCI formats with CRC scrambled by aC-RNTI or an MCS-C-RNTI, can be limited, for example, to three. Variousembodiments of the present disclosure recognize that when the UE 116 isconfigured to monitor a number of DCI formats, a corresponding number ofDCI format sizes does not exceed a limit of DCI format sizes that can beeither predetermined in a system operation or indicated by the UE 116 aspart of a UE capability. Accordingly, various embodiments of the presentdisclosure provide a UE that can monitor DCI formats corresponding todifferent service/priority types and provide a limit, for example ofthree, for the sizes of DCI formats scheduling UE-specific PDSCHreceptions or PUSCH transmissions.

Therefore, various embodiments of the present disclosure enable a UE 116to monitor PDCCH that includes a DCI format indicating to the UE 116 aset of time and/or frequency resources where the UE 116 shall cancel atransmission while mitigating an increase in a number of non-overlappingCCEs where the UE 116 needs to perform channel estimation in a slot.Further, various embodiments of the present disclosure enable a UE 116to monitor PDCCH for detection of DCI formats associated with differentservice/priority types and to limit a total number of sizes for DCIformats with CRC scrambled with a UE-specific RNTI, such as a C-RNTI oran MCS-C-RNTI, to a predetermined value.

As described herein, a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH reception or a SPSPDSCH release by a UE is referred to as DL DCI format. As describedherein, a DCI format scheduling a PUSCH transmission from a UE isreferred to as UL DCI format.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a UE that monitorsPDCCH for detection of a DCI format indicating to the UE a set of timeand/or a set of frequency resources where the UE shall cancel atransmission. In this embodiment, the PDCCH providing the DCI format istransmitted in CCEs with locations determined according to a commonsearch space (CSS). The DCI format is referred to as DCI format 2_4.

For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a mechanism for using DMRS fordemodulating candidate PDCCH receptions according to various embodimentsof the present disclosure. More particularly, FIG. 6 illustrates amechanism for using DMRS, associated with candidate PDCCH receptions ina first occurrence of an associated CORESET of a search space set in aslot, for demodulating candidate PDCCH receptions in subsequentoccurrences of the CORESET of the search space set in the slot,according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Theembodiment of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6 is for illustration only andshould not be construed as limiting. FIG. 6 does not limit the scope ofthe present disclosure to any particular mechanism for using DMRS fordemodulating candidate PDCCH receptions.

As shown in FIG. 6 , an increase in a number of non-overlapping CCEswhere a UE, for example the UE 116, performs channel estimation todemodulate symbols of PDCCH candidates for detection of DCI format 2_4is mitigated by limiting a number of PDCCH candidates per CCEaggregation level for DCI format 2_4, for example to a maximum of two. Afirst CCE for a first PDCCH candidate for a CCE aggregation level can bepredefined in a system operation or configured to the UE 116 by higherlayers. For example, the UE 116 can monitor one PDCCH candidate with anaggregation level of 8 CCEs starting from the first CCE or the ninth CCEof a CORESET and monitor one PDCCH candidate with an aggregation levelof 4 CCEs starting from the first CCE or the fifth CCE of the CORESET,respectively. Further, the UE 116 can assume the DMRS presenceregardless of whether or not a PDCCH with DCI format 2_4 or with anotherDCI format exists in the set of CCEs in the first CORESET occurrence fora search space set in the slot. CCEs for PDCCH candidates can also beassumed to be overlapping even when they correspond to different firstsymbols for the reception of the respective PDCCH candidates.Accordingly, the UE 116 can assume that a same precoding is used for thereception of the PDCCH candidates for DCI format 2_4 in different PDCCHmonitoring occasions within a slot.

The UE 116 can monitor a search space set for PDCCH receptions in aCORESET of 2 symbols where the PDCCH receptions occur in seven instanceswithin a slot. As shown in FIG. 6 , for a CCE of a PDCCH candidate for aDCI format, such as for DCI format 2_4 or, in general, for any DCIformat for which a UE receives a corresponding PDCCH at least accordingto a CSS, in a first occurrence of the PDCCH receptions in a CORESET ofthe search space set in the slot 610, the UE 116 assumes reception ofDMRS in respective REs regardless of whether or not a serving gNBtransmits the PDCCH candidate. For a subsequent occurrence of the PDCCHreceptions in a CORESET in the slot 630, 635, the UE 116 is not requiredto use for channel estimation the REs 640, 645 corresponding to DMRSreception for the PDCCH candidate for the DCI format in the firstoccurrence of the PDCCH receptions in the CORESET in the slot. The REs640, 645 corresponding to DMRS reception can be used by a gNB, such asthe gNB 102, to actually transmit DMRS, to transmit other signaling, orcan remain unused and a corresponding power may be used to increase atransmission power on other REs.

Another approach for supporting an increase in a number ofnon-overlapping CCEs is for a UE, for example the UE 116, to performchannel estimation to demodulate symbols of PDCCH candidates by countinga number of non-overlapping CCEs for CORESETs per PDCCH monitoringoccasions, or per a predetermined number of consecutive symbols, insteadof per slot for a corresponding SCS configuration/value. As issubsequently described, several predetermined numbers of consecutivesymbols that include CORESETs for PDCCH monitoring occasions can besupported. This approach does not mitigate an actual increase in anumber of non-overlapping CCEs that the UE 116 uses to perform channelestimation for demodulating symbols of PDCCH candidates but provides amore realistic representation of the UE complexity associated withchannel estimation due to a number of non-overlapping CCEs for PDCCHmonitoring. This more realistic representation is provided because theassociated UE complexity is determined by a number of channel estimatesthe UE 116 needs to obtain within an absolute time period between thebeginning of CORESETs for PDCCH receptions and does not directly relateto a slot duration.

For example, a UE complexity for performing channel estimation over Nnon-overlapping CCEs per slot is approximately half for SCS of 15 kHzrelative to SCS of 30 kHz (because the slot duration for SCS of 15 kHzis twice the slot duration for SCS of 30 kHz). A UE complexity forperforming channel estimation over N non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETsduring the first 3 symbols of a slot is typically larger than a UEcomplexity for performing channel estimation over 2N non-overlappingCCEs in CORESETs distributed over an entire slot. For example, a numberof non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs can be counted per 2 or 4 symbolswith SCS of 15 kHz or per 4 or 7 symbols with SCS of 30 kHz. Then, forexample for 15 kHz SCS, a limit for a number of non-overlapping CCEs forPDCCH monitoring can be defined for CORESETs per two symbols of a slot.For example, non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs over the first sixconsecutive symbols of a slot are not counted towards a maximum numberof non-overlapping CCEs that the UE 116 can use to monitor PDCCHcandidates. Instead, non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs over a first spanof the first three consecutive symbols or in CORESETs over a second spanof the second three consecutive symbols of a slot are counted.

A UE complexity depends on a time that the UE 116 has available toperform channel estimations over non-overlapping CCEs in a set ofCORESETs. For a given SCS value of PDCCH receptions in sets of CORESETsthat are within a predetermined number of symbols, the time the UE 116has available to perform channel estimations over non-overlapping CCEsin a set of CORESETs is determined by a difference between (a) a numberof symbols between a first symbol for the set of CORESETs and a firstsymbol of a next set of CORESETs and (b) the predetermined number ofsymbols. The larger the difference, the more time the UE has availableto perform channel estimations over a number of non-overlapping CCEs,and the larger the number of the non-overlapping CCEs.

A UE implementation can prioritize decoding of PDCCH candidatesassociated with search space sets for DCI formats associated withapplications requiring lower latency. For applications that are notdelay sensitive, such as for MBB services, the UE 116 typically monitorsall PDCCH candidates for associated DCI formats in CORESETs at the firstfew symbols of a slot. For applications that are delay sensitive, suchas URLLC, the UE 116 may need a substantially uniform distribution ofPDCCH candidates in CORESETs over a slot as scheduling may need to occurwith time granularity smaller than one slot. The UE 116 may further beconfigured to monitor PDCCH candidates for a majority of DCI formatsassociated with PDCCH receptions according to a CSS, such as for examplefor all DCI formats except for DCI format 2_4, in CORESETs located inthe first few symbols of a slot, such as the first one, two, or threesymbols of a slot. Due to the sporadic nature and the typically small TBsizes associated with URLLC services, a total number of PDCCH candidatesand a number of non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs of PDCCH monitoringoccasions for scheduling URLLC service can be smaller than a totalnumber of candidates and a number of non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs ofPDCCH monitoring occasions for scheduling MBB service.

Consequently, an increase in a number of non-overlapping CCEs (and ofPDCCH decoding operations) for a UE supporting both MBB and URLLCservices can be non-uniform relative to ones for a UE supporting onlyMBB (and/or non-latency sensitive URLLC services). Therefore, the UE 116capability for performing channel estimation over a number ofnon-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs per slot can be defined to be Mnon-overlapping CCEs for a first occurrence of CORESETs within apredetermined number of symbols, such as 2 symbols, at the beginning ofthe slot and N non-overlapping CCEs per each remaining occurrence ofCORESETs within the predetermined of symbols in a slot, where N<M. Mcorresponds to a UE capability for PDCCH monitoring over both a slot andover a number of symbols that is less than a number of symbols per slot,and N corresponds to UE capability for PDCCH monitoring over the numberof symbols. For example, M=56 or M=72 and N=24 or N=32. A similardistribution can apply for a number of PDCCH candidates per slot. Usinga non-uniform distribution can address scheduling requirements for theUE 116 that supports both MBB and URLLC services without materiallyincreasing the complexity of the UE 116 even though the UE 116 isrequired to monitor a larger total number of non-overlapping CCEs or alarger total number of PDCCH candidates per slot.

For example, FIG. 7 illustrates a distribution of a maximum number ofnon-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs in a slot according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. More particularly, FIG. 7illustrates a distribution of a maximum number of non-overlapping CCEsin CORESETs in a slot that a UE can obtain channel estimates fordemodulating control information for a PDCCH candidate according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment shown inFIG. 7 is for illustration only and should not be construed as limiting.FIG. 7 does not limit the scope of the present disclosure to anyparticular distribution.

FIG. 7 shows the capability of a UE, such as the UE 116, for a number ofnon-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs to perform channel estimation fordemodulating control information in received PDCCH candidates. For a SCSof 15 kHz corresponding to a slot duration of 1 msec, the UE 116 canmonitor PDCCH over a number of M₀ non-overlapping CCEs for CORESETswithin a first symbol from the first 2 symbols of a slot 710 and N₀non-overlapping CCEs for CORESETs that start in remaining pairs ofsymbols of the slot 712, 714, where N₀<M₀. In this case, CORESETs areincluded within one symbol and first symbols of CORESETs that are notwithin the one symbol are separated by one symbol. For a SCS of 30 kHzcorresponding to a slot duration of 0.5 msec, the UE 116 can monitorPDCCH over a number of M₁ non-overlapping CCEs for CORESETs of onesymbol that start in the first 3 symbols of a slot 720 and N₁non-overlapping CCEs for CORESETs that start in the next 4 symbols 722,the next 3 symbols 724, and the next 4 symbols 726 of the slot whereN₁<M₁. It is noted that, in order to satisfy UE processing requirementsover a smallest possible time period, N₁ is same regardless of whether anumber of symbols between the start of CORESETs is 3 symbols 724 or 4symbols 722, 726, and N₁ is therefore determined based on the smallestnumber of 3 symbols between the first symbols of CORESETs 724. For a SCSof 60 kHz corresponding to a slot duration of 0.25 msec, the UE 116 canmonitor PDCCH over a number of M₂ non-overlapping CCEs for CORESETs ofone symbol that start in the first 7 symbols (half-slot) of a slot 730and N₂ non-overlapping CCEs over CORESETs that start in the next 7symbols 732 of the slot where N₂<M₂.

Although FIG. 7 considers a separation of 7 symbols for 60 kHz SCSbetween first symbols of CORESETs within the first and second 7 symbolsof a slot, a separation of 7 symbols can also be applicable for lowerSCS such as 15 kHz or 30 kHz.

In general, for a SCS of PDCCH receptions, a UE capability for channelestimation over a number of non-overlapping CCEs depends on a firsttime, such as 0.25 msec or 0.5 msec, between the beginning of CORESETsspanning a second time, such as 0.1 msec or 0.2 msec, or equivalently ona number of symbols, such as 4 symbols of 7 symbols, between firstsymbols of CORESETs spanning a second number of symbols, such as 2symbols or 3 symbols, respectively. The larger a processing time a UEhas available to perform channel estimation over non-overlapping CCEs,the larger a maximum number of non-overlapping CCEs that the UE canperform channel estimation.

For a SCS of 120 kHz corresponding to a slot duration of 0.125 msec, adistribution with granularity smaller than a slot of the UE capabilityfor a total number of non-overlapping CCEs per slot, or for a totalnumber of PDCCH candidates per slot, is not required.

As described above, the embodiment described in FIG. 7 should not beconstrued as limiting. For example, M₀, M₁, M₂ and M₃ can correspond tonon-overlapping CCEs for CORESETs having the first symbol of the slot astheir first symbol. This is because, for MBB services or for CSS, PDCCHreceptions by the UE 116 typically start at the first symbol of a slot.The same applies for URLLC services where scheduling happens to be atthe beginning of the slot and therefore M₀, M₁, M₂ or M₃ represents acombined UE capability for a number of non-overlapping CCEs for PDCCHmonitoring over a slot and over symbols of a slot. The additional UEcapability for a number of non-overlapping CCEs can be defined pernumber of symbols between first symbols of CORESETs that are within apredetermined number of symbols and can be smaller than M₀, M₁, M₂, orM₃. Therefore, the UE 116 can have a first capability for a number ofPDCCH candidates or for a number of non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs perslot for all supported SCS values for PDCCH receptions, and have asecond capability for a number of PDCCH candidates or for a number ofnon-overlapping CCEs based on a smallest number of symbols, such as 4symbols or 7 symbols, separating first symbols of CORESETs that arelocated within a predetermined number of symbols, such as 3 symbols or 2symbols. The second capability is limited only to the smaller SCS valuesfor PDCCH receptions.

All of the PDCCH monitoring occasions for the UE 116 can be in CORESETslocated in any OFDM symbol(s) of a slot with a gap of a number ofsymbols between first symbols of CORESETs that are within apredetermined number of symbols. A PDCCH monitoring complexity for theUE 116 can be unevenly distributed within the slot. For example, a UE116 that supports both MBB services and URLLC services can monitor PDCCHin first search space sets that are associated with CORESETssubstantially located in symbols at the beginning of a slot and monitorPDCCH in second search space sets that are associated with CORESETsspanning the entire slot. As the UE 116 monitors a larger number ofPDCCH candidates at the beginning of the slot and for a given UEcapability, the UE 116 spends more time monitoring PDCCH candidates atthe beginning of a slot than at later parts of the slot.

For example, at the beginning of a slot, the UE 116 can monitor amaximum of 36 PDCCH candidates over a maximum of 56 non-overlapping CCEsin CORESETs spanning at most the first three symbols of the slot whileat a later part of the slot where the UE 116 monitors PDCCH, a maximumnumber of PDCCH candidates can be 12 or 16 and a maximum number ofnon-overlapping CCEs can be 24 or 32. The UE 116 can then support PDCCHmonitoring occasions in CORESETs that are within a predetermined numberof symbols, such as 2 symbols, with a minimum gap between first symbolsof the CORESETs, such as 4 symbols. The minimum gap of symbols can besmaller at a later part of the slot than at the beginning of the slot.For example, the UE 116 can monitor a maximum of 36 PDCCH candidatesover a maximum of 56 non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs within the first 3symbols of a slot. The UE can monitor a maximum of 16 PDCCH candidatesover a maximum of 24 non-overlapping CCEs in CORESETs within 2 symbolsof the slot after a gap of X1=3 symbols from the first 3 symbols of theslot, or equivalently after a gap of X1=6 symbols from the first symbolof the CORESETs at the beginning of the slot, that is at the sixth andseventh symbols of the slot. The UE can monitor a maximum of 16 PDCCHcandidates over a maximum of 24 non-overlapping CCEs over 2 symbols ofthe slot in CORESETs that start after a gap of X2=2 symbols from the endof the immediately previous CORESETs, or equivalently after a gap ofX2=4 symbols from the first symbol of the immediately previous CORESETs,for every other PDCCH monitoring occasion in CORESETs in the slot.Therefore, a minimum gap in number of symbols, such as four symbols, ofCORESETs within a predetermined number of symbols, such as two symbols,for PDCCH monitoring occasions in a slot can be larger after the firstPDCCH monitoring occasion, such as X1=3 symbols after the end of theprevious set of CORESETs, or equivalently 6 symbols between firstsymbols of sets of CORESETs separated by the gap, than after every otherPDCCH monitoring occasion in the slot, such as X2=2 symbols after theend of the previous set of CORESETs, or equivalently 4 symbols betweenfirst symbols sets of CORESETs separated by the gap, to reflect thelarger PDCCH processing requirements for channel estimation and decodingoperations for the UE at the beginning of the slot.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide search space setsfor DCI formats scheduling different service/priority types and afulfillment for a limit of a total number of sizes for the DCI formatsto a predetermined value for a UE, such as UE 116. The UE 116 supportingmultiple service/priority types, such as MBB and URLLC, can be providedmultiple search space sets where in addition to one or more search spacesets for monitoring PDCCH providing DCI format 0_0 and DCI format 1_0and one or more search space sets for monitoring PDCCH providing DCIformat 0_1 and DCI format 1_1, the UE 116 can include one or more searchspace sets for monitoring a DCI format 0_2 that schedules a PUSCHtransmission (UL DCI format) and a DCI format 1_2 that schedules a PDSCHreception (DL DCI format). DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 can have asame size and padding bits can be used for one of the two DCI formatswhen necessary, to reduce a number of associated PDCCH decodingoperations for the two DCI formats or to avoid increasing a total numberof DCI format sizes above a predetermined number such as three DCIformats with CRC scrambled by a C-RNTI. A search space set for DCIformat 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 can be different than a search space setfor any of the other DCI formats corresponding to UE-specific searchspaces (USS) because DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 can be associatedwith different reception reliability requirements, such as BLERs, andconsequently require different number of candidates per CCE aggregationlevel for corresponding PDCCH receptions. To improve a receptionreliability for DCI format 0_2 or DCI format 1_2, fields of DCI format0_2 or DCI format 1_2 can have configurable sizes that are smaller thanor equal to sizes of same fields in DCI format 0_0 or DCI format 0_1 orin DCI format 1_0 or in DCI format 1_1, respectively. Further, asmultiple search space sets can be associated with a same CORESET,instead of defining a slot based periodicity for a search space setassociated with DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2, a bitmap indicatingcorresponding PDCCH monitoring occasions within a slot, or within anumber of slots, can be alternatively defined. A value of X for a PDCCHmonitoring capability over a number of symbols is equal to a smallestnumber of symbols between first symbols of CORESETs within apredetermined number of symbols as determined by the bitmap.

In some embodiments, a UE, such as the UE 116, can prioritize anallocation of PDCCH candidates to search space sets for DCI format 0_2and DCI format 1_2 over an allocation of PDCCH candidates to at leastsome search space sets associated with common search spaces (CSS). Inother embodiments, the UE 116 can assume that a gNB configuration ofPDCCH candidates to search space sets is such that the UE 116 can alwaysmonitor PDCCH candidates associated with the search space set for DCIformat 0_2 and DCI format 1_2.

Similar to the UE capability for performing channel estimation over anumber of non-overlapping CCEs per predetermined number of consecutivesymbols for a corresponding SCS configuration/value, a UE capability formonitoring PDCCH candidates can be defined over a same predeterminednumber X of consecutive symbols. As a number of PDCCH decodingoperations is typically larger at the beginning of a slot where the UE116 needs to monitor search space sets for a majority of CSS and USSassociated with scheduling PUSCH transmissions or PDSCH receptionsassociated with eMBB services, UE processing requirements can be relaxedfor PUSCH transmissions or PDSCH receptions that are scheduled by DCIformats in respective search space sets at the first symbols of a slot,such as the first two or three symbols of a slot, compared to PUSCHtransmissions or PDSCH receptions that are scheduled by DCI formats inrespective search space sets at later symbols of the slot. A timelinefor PUSCH transmissions or PDSCH receptions can be relaxed forpredetermined search space sets, such as search space sets with DCIformats associated with MBB services, and the UE 116 can prioritizedecoding operations for other search space sets with DCI formatsassociated with URLLC services. For example, the UE 116 can prioritize(perform first) PDCCH decoding operations and related processing for asearch space set associated with DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 overPDCCH decoding operations for a search space set associated with DCIformat 0_0 and DCI format 1_0, or over PDCCH decoding operations for asearch space set associated with DCI format 1_0 and DCI format 1_1. Forexample, the UE 116 can identify the DCI formats to decode first basedon a corresponding size.

In some embodiments, a PDCCH monitoring periodicity for one or moresearch space sets for the UE 116 can be adjusted by a DCI format becausecorresponding PDCCH monitoring can be sparser when the UE 116 does notindicate existence of data to transmit, through a buffer status reportor through the absence of a positive scheduling request and when aserving gNB, for example the gNB 102, does not have data in its bufferto transmit to the UE 116. For example, a first PDCCH monitoringperiodicity for a search space set or a first set of search space setscan be adjusted to a second PDCCH monitoring periodicity for the searchspace set or to a second set of search space sets, respectively, toprovide the UE 116 with a capability for power savings. This can applyto MBB services that are relatively latency tolerant but not to URLLCservices that are sporadic and require low latency. Therefore, a dynamicadaptation to a PDCCH monitoring periodicity may not apply for a searchspace set associated with DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 and adynamic adaptation to a PDCCH monitoring periodicity may not apply for asearch space set associated with a same CORESET as for a search spaceset for DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2. In addition, a positive SRtransmission by the UE 116 can serve as an implicit trigger by the UE116 for a PDCCH monitoring periodicity of a search space set, or for aset of search space sets, to revert to a default one, such as the oneconfigured by higher layers for search space sets associated with USS,instead of a longer PDCCH monitoring of the search space set, or for aset of search space sets, that may have been indicated by the gNBthrough a DCI format or through a MAC control element. Then, after apositive SR transmission, the UE 116 can begin to monitor PDCCH with anincreased monitoring periodicity at least for search space setsassociated with DCI formats scheduling PUSCH transmissions. Switching aPDCCH monitoring periodicity can be associated with a same search spaceset or with different search space sets having corresponding differentvalues for a PDCCH monitoring periodicity.

In embodiments where the UE 116 monitors only search space sets for DCIformat 0_2 and DCI format 1:2, the UE 116 may not be configured tomonitor PDCCH for search space sets associated with some CSS, such as asearch space set associated with DCI format 2_0 providing a slot formatindicator, a search space set associated with DCI format 2_1 providingan indication of discontinuous transmission by a gNB in one or moreprevious slots, a search space set associated with DCI format 2_2providing TPC con ands for PUSCH transmissions or PUCCH transmissions,or a search space set associated with DCI format 2_3 providing eitherTPC commands or both TPC commands and a triggering indication for SRStransmissions. The UE 116 may not monitor the aforementioned searchspace sets because the DCI formats in the aforementioned search spacesets can be associated with a target BLER that can be several orders ofmagnitude larger than a target BLER for DCI format 0_2 and DCI format1_2 that are associated with URLLC services. Accordingly, it Lan beinefficient for a network to decrease the target BIER for theaforementioned DCI formats since their applicability is associated withMBB services and a large number of CCEs that can be used to decrease thetarget BLER may require increased UE complexity to support in order toobtain associated channel estimates. For example, the UE 116 can haveperiodic CSI or periodic SRS transmissions spanning symbols that arealways UL symbols, or to have periodic CSI-RS receptions spanningsymbols that are always DL symbols, and then obtaining an SFI isunnecessary. For example, a larger range of TPC commands can besupported for DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2, for respective PUSCHtransmissions and PUCCH transmissions, to accommodate for the UE notobtaining TPC Is by DCI format 2_2.

The UE 116 can monitor a number of different sizes for UE-specific DCIformats that are associated with a USS during a PDCCH monitoringoccasion or during a slot. If a maximum number of sizes for UE-specificDCI formats is limited to 3 and as DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1 canhave different sizes, when the UE 116 monitors PDCCH for DCI format 0_2and DCI format 1_2, the UE 116 would monitor a maximum of three sizesfor UE-specific DCI formats if DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 have asame size (size of DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1:2 is first aligned,when needed, to limit a total number of UE-specific DCI format sizes to3) as one of the sizes for DCI format 0_0 and DCI format 1_0, or DCIformat 0_1, or DCI format 1_1. However, various embodiments of thepresent disclosure recognize the inefficiency of this approach becauseDCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 can require a substantially smallersize than the other DCI formats, while also requiring a BLER that isseveral orders of magnitude smaller than the BLEB of the other DCIformats. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present disclosureenable the maximum number of DCI formats to be maintained at three.

In some embodiments, the maximum number of DCI formats can be maintainedat 3 by using a same size for DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1. Thisembodiment can be more efficient than increasing the size of DCI format0_2 and DCI format 1:2, particularly when a small number of padding bitsis needed for one of DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1. This embodimentprovides an equal size for the two DCI formats and decreases a number ofPDCCH decoding operations for MBB service. A serving gNB, for examplethe gNB 102, can indicate, to a UE, such as the UE 116, or the UE 116can directly perform one of the following in order to maintain a totalnumber of three sizes for DCI formats having CRC scrambled with a C-RNTIafter the UE 116 aligns a size for DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1:2 toa same size:

-   -   a) DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 are padded so that a        resulting size is same as for DCI format 0_0 and DCI format 1_0,        or    -   b) DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 are padded so that a        resulting size is same as the smaller of the size for DCI format        0_1 and the size for DCI format 1_1, or    -   c) DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 are padded so that a        resulting size is same as for DCI format 1_1, or    -   d) DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1 is padded so that a        resulting size is same as for DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 0_1,        respectively.

In other embodiments, the maximum number of DCI formats can bemaintained at 3 by using a variable DCI format size depending on acorresponding PDCCH monitoring occasion. For example, for PDCCHmonitoring occasions where the UE 116 monitors PDCCH for DCI format 0_0,DCI format 1_0, DCI format 0_1, or DCI format 1_1 referred to forbrevity as MBB DCI formats, the size of DCI format and the size of DCIformat 1_2 can be the same (after alignment, when needed) as one of thesizes for the MBB DCI formats. For PDCCH monitoring occasions where theUE 116 does not monitor PDCCH for MBB DCI formats, the size of DCIformat 0:2 and the size of DCI format 1:2 can be different, such assmaller.

The UE 116 can also use a variable DCI format size depending on aCORESET for a corresponding search space set. For example, when a sameCORESET is associated with a search space set for DCI format 0_2 and DCIformat 1_2 and for one or more MBB DCI formats, a size for DCI format0_2 and DCI format 1_2 can be the same as a size for one MBB DCI formatso that DCI format 0:2 and DCI format 1_2 can schedule traffic ofdifferent priorities such as MBB or URI-LC. When a different CORESET isassociated with a search space set for DCI format 0_2 and format 1_2 andfor any MBB DCI format, the size of format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 can bedifferent than a size for any MBB DCI format. Further, in a slot wherethe UE 116 may not monitor PDCCH candidates for either DCI format 0_0and DCI format 1_0 or DCI format 0_1, or DCI format 1_1, the UE 116 maynot match a size of DCI format 0_2 and of DCI format 1_2 to a size of aMBB DCI format. The UE 116 may also not match a size of DCI format 0_2and of DCI format 1_2 to a size of a MBB DCI format when the UE 116 isnot configured to monitor PDCCH candidates for either DCI format 0_0 andDCI format 1_0, or for DCI format 0_1 or for DCI format 1_1.

For example, FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 of determining a DCI formatsize according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.Although described herein as being implemented by the UE 116, the methodillustrated in FIG. 8 can be implemented by one or more of the UEs111-116 and a corresponding method can be performed by one or more ofthe gNBs 101-103 described in FIG. 1 . Other embodiments can be usedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In operation 810, a UE, for example the UE 116, is configured withsearch space sets for DCI format 0_2 or DCI format 1_2, DCI format 0_0or DCI format 0_1, and DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 1_1. The UE 116 canbe configured with the search space sets by a gNB, for example the gNB102. The search space sets can be stored in the memory 360. The UE 116can use the search space sets for monitoring PDCCH candidates thatprovide the DCI formats as described herein.

In operation 820, for a decoding a DCI format in a particular slot or aPDCCH monitoring occasion, the UE 116 determines whether the UE 116 isconfigured to decode all the DCI formats in the slot or the PDCCHmonitoring occasion. If the UE 116 is configured to decode all the DCIformats in the slot or the PDCCH monitoring occasion, the UE 116performs operation 830. If the UE 116 is not configured to decode allthe DCI formats in the slot or the PDCCH monitoring occasion, the UE 116performs operation 840.

In operation 830, when the UE 116 determines that the UE 116 isconfigured to decode all the DCI formats in the slot or the PDCCHmonitoring occasion, the UE 116 size matches at least one DCI format.For example, when the size of DCI format 0_2 (and DCI format 1_2—sizealignment of DCI format 0_2 and DCI format 1_2 is performed first whenalignment of sizes of DCI format is needed) is smaller than the size ofDCI format 0_0 or DCI format 1_0, the UE 116 size matches the size ofDCI format 0_2 (and DCI format 1_2) to the size of DCI format 0_0 or thesize of DCI format 1_0. When the size of DCI format 0_2 (and DCI format1_2) is larger than the size of DCI format 0_0 or the size of DCI format1_0, the UE 116 either matches the size of DCI format 0_2 (and DCIformat 1_2) to the smaller of the sizes of DCI format 0_1 and DCI format1_1 or matches the smaller of the sizes of DCI format 0_1 and DCI format1_1 to the larger of the sizes of DCI format 0_1 and DCI format 1_1. Inoperation 840, when the UE 116 is not configured to decode all the DCIformats in the slot or PDCCH monitoring occasion, the UE 116 does notsize match any of the DCI formats.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure adapt parameters for atransmission, from a UE, such as the UE 116, or cancelation of atransmission in response to a detection by the UE 116 of a DCI format2_4 and for a reception by the UE 116 in response to a configuration ofa search space set for DCI format 2_4. The DCI format 2_4 indicates aset of time-frequency resources for suspension of ongoing transmissions.The present disclosure recognizes that limiting a number of informationbits, for example to 20 information bits excluding CRC bits, that can beprovided by DCI format 2_4 can improve a detection reliability for DCIformat 2_4 while reducing a resource overhead required for acorresponding PDCCH reception. Due to the coarse indication oftime-frequency resources indicated by DCI format 2_4, DCI format 2_4 canindicate the suspension or cancellation of ongoing transmissions in RBs,and possibly symbols, where a suspension or cancellation of atransmission is not required. In some embodiments, the UE 116 isconfigured to monitor DCI format 2_4 and either DCI format 0_0 or DCIformat 0_1 and DCI format 0_2 and can ignore, for a PUSCH transmission,the indication provided by DCI format 2_4 if the PUSCH transmission isscheduled by DCI format 0_2 or, in general, by a DCI format scheduling atransmission of higher priority. In particular, the UE 116 can apply theindication provided by DCI format 2_4 if the PUSCH transmission isscheduled by DCI format 0_0 or DCI format 0_1 or, in general, by a DCIformat scheduling a transmission of lower priority.

In some embodiments, the UE 116 can have multiple CG-PUSCHconfigurations. For a PUSCH transmission from the UE 116 without anassociated UL DCI format (CG-PUSCH), when the UE 116 has multipleCG-PUSCH configurations, the UE 116 can select a CG-PUSCH configurationthat avoids a set of time-frequency resources indicated by DCI format2_4. When no CG-PUSCH configuration from the multiple CG-PUSCHconfiguration avoids all time-frequency resources of the set oftime-frequency resources indicated by DCI format 2_4, the UE 116 canpostpone a PUSCH transmission until there is a CG-PUSCH withtime-frequency resources that are not indicated by a DCI format 2_4 asunavailable for transmission (avoids all time-frequency resources of theset of time-frequency resources indicated by DCI format 2_4) or untilthe UE 116 does not detect a DCI format 2_4. Alternatively, the UE 116can select the CG-PUSCH configuration of time-frequency resources thatincludes a smallest number of REs from the set of time-frequencyresources indicated as unavailable by DCI format 2_4. In addition, theUE 116 can puncture the transmission of CG-PUSCH in REs that areincluded in the set of time-frequency resources indicated as unavailableby DCI format 2_4.

For example, FIG. 9 illustrates a method 900 of determining a resourcefor a CG-PUSCH transmission according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. More particularly, FIG. 9 illustrates a method ofdetermining a resource, from a set of multiple resources, for a CG-PUSCHtransmission according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.Although described herein as being implemented by the UE 116, the methodillustrated in FIG. 9 can be implemented by one or more of the UEs111-116 and a corresponding method can be performed by one or more ofthe gNBs 101-103 described in FIG. 1 . Other embodiments can be usedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In operation 910, a UE, such as the UE 116, is provided with a set ofresources for a CG-PUSCH transmission. The UE 116 can be provided withthe set of resources by a gNB, such as the gNB 102. The set of resourcescan be stored in the memory 360. In some embodiments, the set ofresources are a set of time-frequency resources. The UE 116 uses one ofthe subsets of resources to transmit a CG-PUSCH.

In operation 920, the UE 116 detects a DCI format that indicatessuspension or cancelation of transmissions in a subset of the set ofresources. The suspended or cancelled resources are referred to hereinas the suspended subset of resources. The subset of resources can be aset of time-frequency resources. In operation 930, the UE 116 determineswhether one or more subsets of resources from the set of resources donot include REs from the suspended subset of resources. If the UE 116determines one or more subsets of resources from the set of resources donot include REs from the suspended subset of resources, the UE 116proceeds to operation 940. If the UE 116 determines that one or moresubsets of resources from the set of resources include REs from thesuspended subset of resources, the UE 116 proceeds to operation 950.

In operation 940, when there are one or more subsets of resources fromthe first set of resources that do not include REs from the suspendedsubset of resources, the transceiver 310 transmits the CG-PUSCH using asubset of resources from the one or more subsets of resources. Forexample, the subset can be the one with the smallest index or, ifdifferent subsets of resources are associated with different MCS, can bethe one with the largest MCS.

In operation 950, when there is no subset of resources from the firstset of resources that does not include REs from the suspended subset ofresources, the transceiver 310 transmits the CG-PUSCH using a subset ofresources from the set of resources that has the smallest number of REsthat are also in the suspended subset of resources. In some embodiments,the UE 116 can puncture, or rate-match, the CG-PUSCH transmission in theREs of the subset of resources that are also in the suspended subset ofresources. In other embodiments, when different subsets of resourcesfrom the set of resources are associated with different MCS, the subsetof resources can be the one that results to the smallest MCS reductionafter puncturing the CG-PUSCH transmission. In addition, as described ingreater detail below, the UE 116 can increase a CG-PUSCH transmissionpower to account for the reduction in a number of REs for the CG-PUSCHtransmission that results from the puncturing of the CG-PUSCHtransmission in the REs of the subset of resources that are also in thesuspended subset of resources, or to account for interference in the REsof the subset of resources that are also in the suspended subset ofresources when the UE does not puncture the CG-PUSCH transmission inthose REs.

In various embodiments, a gNB, such as the gNB 102, transmits a DCIformat 2_4 based on whether or not previously configured or scheduledtransmissions from UEs, such as one or more of the UEs 111-116, need tobe suspended in a set of time-frequency resources indicated by the DCIformat 2_4. The gNB can provide the set of time-frequency resources fora CORESET associated with a search space set for PDCCH transmission forthe DCI format 2_4 to the UE 116. However, the UE 116 may not rate matchor puncture a PDSCH reception according to the CORESET resources, when aPDSCH reception includes CORESET resources, because the CORESETresources may typically not be used by the gNB 102 to transmit a PDCCHwith a DCI format 2_4. Therefore, a resource overhead that correspondsto an always present transmission of PDCCH with DCI format 2_4 can beavoided.

Instead, the UE 116 can assume that CORESET resources are available forPDSCH reception. When the CORESET resources are not available, the gNB102 can later provide a corresponding indication to the UE 116. In someembodiments, the corresponding indication can be provided through afield in a DCI format scheduling PDSCH receptions to the UE 116, wherefor example the field can be applicable for a previous PDSCHtransmission for a same TB as identified by the NDI field the RV fieldand the HARQ process number field in a DL DCI format. In otherembodiments, the corresponding indication can be provided through a DCIformat 2_1 that indicates resources with discontinuous transmission tothe UE 116 in one or more previous slots. In various embodiments, thegNB 102 can configure the UE 116, through higher layer signaling,whether or not the UE rate matches or punctures a PDSCH reception aroundthe CORESET resources.

In some embodiments, the UE 116 can rate match or puncture a PDSCHreception around CORESET resources that the UE 116 is provided, byhigher layer signaling, for a search space set associated with a PDCCHreception for DCI format 2_4. In order to minimize correspondingresource overhead, the UE 116 assumes that resources associated withPDCCH candidates for DCI format 2_4 are unavailable in the CORESET andno other PDCCH is transmitted in the CORESET, unless the CORESET iswithin the first 3 symbols of a slot where other PDCCH transmissions canalso occur. In addition, for a single PDCCH candidate such as firstPDCCH candidate, the UE 116 can assume the single PDCCH candidate isreceived for DCI format 2_4 in the CORESET. It is also possible thanwhen the CORESET is located within the first 3 symbols of a slot, the UE116 can assume that any PDCCH candidate for DCI format 2_4 can be usedto receive the PDCCH providing DCI format 2_4.

In some embodiments, the UE 116 monitors PDCCH for DCI format 2_4 in aparticular slot regardless of whether or not the transceiver 310transmits in the slot. When the UE 116 detects a DCI format 2_4 and theUE has a PDSCH reception in resources that include resources used forthe PDCCH reception for DCI format 2_4, the UE 116 rate matches orpunctures the PDSCH reception in the resources used for the PDCCHreception for DCI format 2_4; otherwise, the when the UE does not detectthe DCI format 2_4, the UE does not rate match or puncture the PDSCHreception in the resources used for the PDCCH reception for DCI format2_4.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 of receiving a PDSCH according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure. More particularly, FIG.10 illustrates a method, performed by a UE, such as the UE 116, ofreceiving a PDSCH in resources that overlap with resource of a CORESETthe UE 116 is configured for receiving PDCCH candidates for DCI format2_4 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Althoughdescribed herein as being implemented by the UE 116, the methodillustrated in FIG. 10 can be implemented by one or more of the UEs111-116 and a corresponding method can be performed by one or more ofthe gNBs 101-103 described in FIG. 1 . Other embodiments can be usedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In operation 1010, a UE, such as the UE 116, is provided resources for aCORESET associated with a search space set for monitoring PDCCHcandidates for DCI format 2_4. The UE 116 can be provided the resourcesby a gNB, such as the gNB 102. The resources can be stored in the memory360. In some embodiments, the provided resources can be a set oftime-frequency resources.

In operation 1020, the transceiver 310 receives a PDSCH in resourcesthat include the CORESET resources. In some embodiments, the transceiver310 receives the PDSCH from the gNB 102.

In operation 1030, the UE 116 determines whether the PDSCH resourcesinclude resources used for CCEs of PDCCH candidates for DCI format 2_4,such as a single PDCCH candidate. If the UE 116 determines the PDSCHresources do include resources used for CCEs of PDCCH candidates for DCIformat 2_4, the UE 116 proceeds to operation 1040. If the UE 116determines the PDSCH resources do not include resources used for CCEs ofPDCCH candidates for DCI format 2_4, the UE 116 proceeds to operation1050.

In operation 1040, based on the UE 116 determining the PDSCH resourcesdo include resources used for CCEs of PDCCH candidates for DCI format2_4, the UE 116 punctures the PDSCH reception in resources for CCEs ofPDCCH candidates for DCI format 2_4. In operation 1050, based on the UE116 determining the PDSCH resources do not include resources used forCCEs of PDCCH candidates for DCI format 2_4, the UE 116 receives thePDSCH in all CORESET resources.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exampleembodiment, various changes and modifications can be suggested by or toone skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosureencompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A method performed by a base station (BS) in awireless communication system, the method comprising: identifyingwhether a first total number of different downlink control information(DCI) sizes is more than a predetermined number; padding at least onefirst bit to one DCI of a DCI format 0_2 or a DCI format 1_2, until asize of the DCI format 0_2 and a size of the DCI format 1_2 are equal incase that the first total number is more than the predetermined number;identifying whether a second total number of different DCI sizes is morethan the predetermined number after padding the at least one first bit;padding at least one second bit to one DCI of a DCI format 0_1 or a DCIformat 1_1, until a size of the DCI format 0_1 and a size of the DCIformat 1_1 are equal in case that the second total number is more thanthe predetermined number; and transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), aphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) associated with at least oneof the DCI format 0_2, the DCI format 1_2, the DCI format 0_1, or theDCI format 1_1.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predeterminednumber corresponds to: a predetermined number related to a total numberof different DCI sizes, or a predetermined number related to a totalnumber of different DCI sizes with a cell radio network temporaryidentifier (C-RNTI).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one DCI ofthe DCI format 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2 is DCI of a smaller size of theDCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2, wherein the at least one firstbit is padded to the DCI format 0_2 in case that the size of DCI format0_2 is smaller than the size of DCI format 1_2, and wherein the at leastone first bit is padded to the DCI format 1_2 in case that the size ofDCI format 1_2 is smaller than the size of DCI format 0_2.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the one DCI of the DCI format 0_1 or the DCI format1_1 is DCI of a smaller size of the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format1_1, wherein the at least one second bit is padded to the DCI format 0_1in case that the size of DCI format 0_1 is smaller than the size of DCIformat 1_1, and wherein the at least one second bit is padded to the DCIformat 1_1 in case that the size of DCI format 1_1 is smaller than thesize of DCI format 0_1.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined number is three.
 6. A method performed by a user equipment(UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:receiving, from a base station (BS), a physical downlink control channel(PDCCH) associated with at least one of downlink control information(DCI) format 0_2, DCI format 1_2, DCI format 0_1, or DCI format 1_1;identifying one padded DCI of the DCI format 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2,the one padded DCI including at least one first bit padded until a sizeof the DCI format 0_2 and a size of the DCI format 1_2 are equal in casethat a first total number of different DCI sizes is more than apredetermined number; and identifying one padded DCI of the DCI format0_1 or the DCI format 1_1, the one padded DCI including at least onesecond bit padded until a size of the DCI format 0_1 and a size of theDCI format 1_1 are equal in case that a second total number of differentDCI sizes is more than the predetermined number, wherein the at leastone second bit included in the one padded DCI of the DCI format 0_1 orthe DCI format 1_1 is padded after the at least one first bit includedin the one padded DCI of the DCI format 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2 ispadded.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined numbercorresponds to: a predetermined number related to a total number ofdifferent DCI sizes, or a predetermined number related to a total numberof different DCI sizes with a cell radio network temporary identifier(C-RNTI).
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the one DCI of the DCIformat 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2 is DCI of a smaller size of the DCIformat 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2, wherein the at least one first bit ispadded to the DCI format 0_2 in case that the size of DCI format 0_2 issmaller than the size of DCI format 1_2, and wherein the at least onefirst bit is padded to the DCI format 1_2 in case that the size of DCIformat 1_2 is smaller than the size of DCI format 0_2.
 9. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the one DCI of the DCI format 0_1 or the DCI format 1_1is DCI of a smaller size of the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1,wherein the at least one second bit is padded to the DCI format 0_1 incase that the size of DCI format 0_1 is smaller than the size of DCIformat 1_1, and wherein the at least one second bit is padded to the DCIformat 1_1 in case that the size of DCI format 1_1 is smaller than thesize of DCI format 0_1.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein thepredetermined number is three.
 11. A base station (BS), the BScomprising: a transceiver; and at least one processor operably coupledwith the transceiver and configured to: identify whether a first totalnumber of different downlink control information (DCI) sizes is morethan a predetermined number, pad at least one first bit to one DCI of aDCI format 0_2 or a DCI format 1_2, until a size of the DCI format 0_2and a size of the DCI format 1_2 are equal in case that the first totalnumber is more than the predetermined number, identify whether a secondtotal number of different DCI sizes is more than the predeterminednumber after padding the at least one first bit, pad at least one secondbit to one DCI of a DCI format 0_1 or a DCI format 1_1, until a size ofthe DCI format 0_1 and a size of the DCI format 1_1 are equal in casethat the second total number is more than the predetermined number, andcontrol the transceiver to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), aphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) associated with at least oneof the DCI format 0_2, the DCI format 1_2, the DCI format 0_1, or theDCI format 1_1.
 12. The BS of claim 11, wherein the predetermined numbercorresponds to: a predetermined number related to a total number ofdifferent DCI sizes, or a predetermined number related to a total numberof different DCI sizes with a cell radio network temporary identifier(C-RNTI).
 13. The BS of claim 11, wherein the one DCI of the DCI format0_2 or the DCI format 1_2 is DCI of a smaller size of the DCI format 0_2and the DCI format 1_2, wherein the at least one first bit is padded tothe DCI format 0_2 in case that the size of DCI format 0_2 is smallerthan the size of DCI format 1_2, and wherein the at least one first bitis padded to the DCI format 1_2 in case that the size of DCI format 1_2is smaller than the size of DCI format 0_2.
 14. The BS of claim 11,wherein the one DCI of the DCI format 0_1 or the DCI format 1_1 is DCIof a smaller size of the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1, whereinthe at least one second bit is padded to the DCI format 0_1 in case thatthe size of DCI format 0_1 is smaller than the size of DCI format 1_1,and wherein the at least one second bit is padded to the DCI format 1_1in case that the size of DCI format 1_1 is smaller than the size of DCIformat 0_1.
 15. The BS of claim 11, wherein the predetermined number isthree.
 16. A user equipment (UE), the UE comprising: a transceiver; andat least one processor operably coupled with the transceiver andconfigured to: control the transceiver to receive, from a base station(BS), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) associated with atleast one of downlink control information (DCI) format 0_2, DCI format1_2, DCI format 0_1, or DCI format 1_1, identify one padded DCI of theDCI format 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2, the one padded DCI including atleast one first bit padded until a size of the DCI format 0_2 and a sizeof the DCI format 1_2 are equal in case that a first total number ofdifferent DCI sizes is more than a predetermined number, and identifyone padded DCI of the DCI format 0_1 or the DCI format 1_1, the onepadded DCI including at least one second bit padded until a size of theDCI format 0_1 and a size of the DCI format 1_1 are equal in case that asecond total number of different DCI sizes is more than thepredetermined number, wherein the at least one second bit included inthe one padded DCI of the DCI format 0_1 or the DCI format 1_1 is paddedafter the at least one first bit included in the one padded DCI of theDCI format 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2 is padded.
 17. The UE of claim 16,wherein the predetermined number corresponds to: a predetermined numberrelated to a total number of different DCI sizes, or a predeterminednumber related to a total number of different DCI sizes with a cellradio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI).
 18. The UE of claim 16,wherein the one DCI of the DCI format 0_2 or the DCI format 1_2 is DCIof a smaller size of the DCI format 0_2 and the DCI format 1_2, whereinthe at least one first bit is padded to the DCI format 0_2 in case thatthe size of DCI format 0_2 is smaller than the size of DCI format 1_2,and wherein the at least one first bit is padded to the DCI format 1_2in case that the size of DCI format 1_2 is smaller than the size of DCIformat 0_2.
 19. The UE of claim 16, wherein the one DCI of the DCIformat 0_1 or the DCI format 1_1 is DCI of a smaller size of the DCIformat 0_1 and the DCI format 1_1, wherein the at least one second bitis padded to the DCI format 0_1 in case that the size of DCI format 0_1is smaller than the size of DCI format 1_1, and wherein the at least onesecond bit is padded to the DCI format 1_1 in case that the size of DCIformat 1_1 is smaller than the size of DCI format 0_1.
 20. The UE ofclaim 16, wherein the predetermined number is three.